enclosed rigs
- Thread starter Kory
- Start date
Chesapeake
New member
You could always replace the box with a flatbed, or cut the top and sides off the box and then you got a flatbed.
B.A.
New member
Flatbed NPR will be our next rig, and I just found three around the corner. Diesels with about 125-150k miles asking $8500. I really like chris' rig and would only make 1 modification. Fabrication of doors all around. They do not have to be heavy duty, just something that can be painted and used for advertising. If I can get the truck for 7500, I am hoping to get all fab work for $2500 and be at 10k. What do ya think?
Chesapeake
New member
I agree with you Ryan. Hinged signs all the way around is a great idea. I found a few trailer rigs online with them. Unfortunately it was after I had fabricated my rack and mounted my equipment.
Apple Roof Cleaning
Roof Cleaning Instructor
The chlorine eats up boxes, and makes life miserable for those in the truck. We just removed the roll up door of the box, drove it for years. Went to flatbeds, more better to work off of. The Isuzu is nice, try for an Isuzu NPR HD if possible. They are all a bit underpowered carrying 600 gallons of roof cleaning mix. We now have a Ford F 450 Diesel that jerks the 600 gallons of mix around like it ain't even there WITH the A/C on. Don't try that with an Isuzu 4 cyl diesel. We do miss the tight turning radius of the Isuzu, but the Ford F 450 stops better. I would consider a flatbed truck a throw away item if used for a lot of roof cleaning, so don't dump a LOT of money in it.
Every flatbed truck we have ever had (plenty) winds up with a rusted chassis, making re sale a difficult proposition. Each one died a different way. On Isuzu's, Turbochargers and Tranny's go, so a tranny cooler is a MUST. Our Mitsubishi has had a new tranny and it spit a driveshaft at 60 mph !!!!
The rusty springs broke on one Ford F 350, and u joints are a constant problem for anything near chlorine.
Every flatbed truck we have ever had (plenty) winds up with a rusted chassis, making re sale a difficult proposition. Each one died a different way. On Isuzu's, Turbochargers and Tranny's go, so a tranny cooler is a MUST. Our Mitsubishi has had a new tranny and it spit a driveshaft at 60 mph !!!!
The rusty springs broke on one Ford F 350, and u joints are a constant problem for anything near chlorine.
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EcoClean
New member
I just bought this enclosed trailer yesterday.
Before I move everything over, I'm going to coat the floor and walls with some type of coating. Maybe herculiner? I really need to sit down and draw up a blueprint of how I want everything, I don't want to have to rearrange it later.
Before I move everything over, I'm going to coat the floor and walls with some type of coating. Maybe herculiner? I really need to sit down and draw up a blueprint of how I want everything, I don't want to have to rearrange it later.
Big Mike
Member
We've ran enclosed trailers, open trailers, box trucks, and flatbeds. The NPR's with a flatbed (we have GMC's) are perfect. Yes, they need regular maint., but their size and turning radius are big pluses. I will never crawl into a box truck again. After a fire in the box truck we had it removed and put on a new heavy duty flatbed. Best move ever!!
Sunshine
New member
Don't you work in the winter Mike? I'm surprised that you are running flatbeds with the snow.
If you are running in the winter, how are you keeping everything dry and heated when you're out?
The Roof Cleaners
Member
I lost a brake line on my F-350 bucket truck on Saturday and I am very diligent about inspecting those things. That has always been my greatest fear - losing a brake line with over a ton of weight in the truck. Furtunately, downshifting and the e-brake stopped me before a stopped vehicle in front of me. Replacing all metal brake lines on both trucks today!
Brian
Brian
Wesley Teston
New member
Micah are you still in the pressure washing business?? I was told you got out of the business, actually not long after our run in a few years back.
Apple Roof Cleaning
Roof Cleaning Instructor
Yes, an Isuzu is not like a Ford Diesel that will laugh if you miss an oil or filter change. They get fuel econony and power out of the little diesel by running the turbo hard, compared to others. This creates heat, that can easily cook turbo's and trannys. IF you take care of them, they are great, and a real pleasure to drive.
That tight turning radius is addicting, I admit.
And so is the fuel economy.
EcoClean
New member
Still going strong Wesley. We had a bad drought here a few years back that really limited residential washing, along with the economy on commercial cleaning - so I sold the hot water rig. Kept the cold water and now I have another hot water rig. Window cleaning has been going strong throughout. Just upgraded to an All Flo roof cleaning pump too.
How's work down your way?
swrest
New member
Open rigs are great sales tools, I always make sure to bring the big one to bid meetings or anytime I can get a decision makers eyes on it, I have been told many many many times that we won the job based just on our equipment. Fair? No but we do stand behind our work so it is never just a frivolous choice. Big open trailers get alot of attention which can equal alot of sales. Just a trip to Home Depot can be a sale in the making.
